British police report they arrested 12 men suspected of plotting a terrorist attack in Britain. The men were taken from different areas around the United Kingdom as a result of counter-terrorism intelligence work.

Police picked up the men in early morning raids in Birmingham and Stoke-on-Trent in central England, Cardiff in Wales; and, in London. The suspects are range in age from 17 to 24.

John Yates, in charge of terrorism operations for London’s Metropolitan police, reported, “They were all arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000 on the suspicion of the commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism. The suspects are currently in custody at three separate police stations across the country where they will be interviewed over the coming days.”

The threat was not necessarily imminent, but potentially very serious. The 12 suspects were part of a big plot and were under surveillance for a long time.